Tobacco-stemming mechanism



Y Aug. 2, 1927. 1,637,801

W. B. BRONANDER vTOBACCO sTEMM1`NG MEcHAN-ISM Filed April 7, 1926 2 She'ets-Sheet v1 lNvENToR f8 ATTORNEY I 1,637,801. Aug' 2 1927' W. B. BRONANDER TOBACCO STEMMING MECHANI SM Filed April '7. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY .llsatagdauaailgga' 1,637,801? :UNITED-STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

'WILHELM B..BRONAANDER, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, .ASSIGNOR TO, STANDARD i TOBACCO STEMMER COMPANY, CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

Toimcco-s'rrzlfntrnvefl MEcHANIsM.

Y Application medyaprn 7, 1926. serial N. 100,362. y This invention relates to an improvement are provided two coacting leaf-stripping in a tobacco stemming mechanism for mamembers, means whereby a lurality of i chinesof the type disclosed in the Strickstems are simultaneously drawn etween said land Patent N o. 1,301,193, granted Apr. 22, members, and means for producing inl rapid 1919, and for others. succession movements of said members which 60 In the Strickland tobacco stemming ma- `are the resultants of traveling movements chine, or the standard stemmer as it is called around axes substantially parallel with the in the indu'stry, there are ttwo circular series stems and of reciprocating movements along l of multi-notched leaf-stri ping blades rotatthe stems to cause said` members to repeatl0 ing about axes substantia ly at right angles edly engage each stem and strip a short -sec. 65 to the stems being drawn upwardly'and fortion of leaf therefrom, reducing to a miniwardly between said series of blades. The mum the time heretofore lost in movin such bladesof the two series alternately engage `members 'far away from the stems an back; the stems and strip short sections ofleaf a ain. In the best, constructions contemtherefrom; but each blade engages any given p ated, there is further provided 'means 70 stemonce only, for it spends the most of its whereby the traveling movement'of the leaftime in traveling in an orbital path far away strippingmembers lis interrupted during the from the stems and then'toward them. The strip ing reciprocating movement of said blades are therefore idle the. most of the `mem rs, so that` during this period the time, although the two series as a whole are movement is straight along the stem in- 7 always at lwork on apprximately as many stead of along an arc to which the stem is leaves as there are blades. tangent as heretofore. The various means It has now been discovered that a greater may be widely varied in construction within output at less expense, and cleaner strip, are the scope of the claims, for the specific struc- JJ obtainable by a change in such machines inture selected to illustrate the invention is but 80 'volving the use of only a single air of leafone of manyl possible concrete embodiments stripping members, or blades o the multiofthe same. The invention, therefore, is notched type, these members, or blades, en not to be restrictedto the' precise details of gaging opposite sides of a stem at the s amc the. structure shown and described.`

im time. and "coacting to simultaneously strip a, 4Referring to the drawin s: On the cross 85 short section -of the leaf from both sidesl of members 5 of the frame og the machine in the stem, and having the" smallest possible -connection` with which the mechanism `is traveling movements'toward'and away from used, two of 'which members carry the drive the stems, and repeatedlyengaging. the same shaft 6, are supported the bearings 7 in each stem as the latter' is moved'upwa'rdly and of which is mounted a vertical transmissioneo forwardly. between the members, orblades. shaft 8 and .each of which forms the sta- The main object ofthe present invention, tionaryk part 9 of one of the split supports therefore, is the 'production off 'a tobacco for the crankshaft 10. ,stemming mehanisrtr having these desirable` The crankshafts 10, by means of the 40 characteristics. With this and other objects cranks 11, operate the-connecting rods 12 95 A not l specifically mentioned in view, the inthe latter being attac/bedr:v to the crossheais vention consists in certain 'combinationsf and 13 in each of which is journaled a vertical' constructions which will be bereinafter'flllly crankshaft 14 having an upwardly project.- described and .then specifically set th 1n ing crank 15 passing through a hole` near one I the claims Ahereunto appended. end of theblade vholders 16. To each of loi.)

In the accompanying drawings, which. l these holders a bar 17 is fastened by means like characters of reference lndlcatethe same-*ggf screws 18 passing'through a flange at the or like parts, Flg. 1 is :a plan View of a other end of each holder, the bars 17 in turn a 'mechanism'constructed in accordance with` carrying the leaf-stripping members 'or 5othe inventionb'Fig, 2 is a sectionalelevation blades 19. Each two crosshea'ds of the' same 105 taken on the line in Fig. 1; F1g.3 iS a blade are connected by means of a ytie-bar 20.

cross-sectional elevatlqn taken on the line `The stripping blades 19 are multi-notched' 3-'-3 inFig. 1.; and Fig. Liis a cross-sectional with saw-like teeth which, when moved toelevation taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1. gether, form a' series of holes, as shown in In carrying the invention into effect, there Fig. l; and when the bla-des are in closed poh- 110 sition they closely embrace the .stems in said holes. The teeth ofthe' blades are so spaced l 'Oneach of thev vertical crankshafts 14' in i le. f from the lstems for a distance equal to the crossheads 13 is fixed a short spiral gear 24 supported by a thrust bearing-25. On the horizontal crankshafts are fixed the spiral gears 26 meshing with the spiral gears 27 on the tranmission shafts 8 which carry `the elongated spiral spiral gears 24 on'the crankshafts 14.' The crankshafts 10 are. rotatably connected by means of the spur gears .29, one of the crankshafts 10 being driven by the sprocket 3() connectedby chain 31 with'the sprocket 32 on the main shaft 6.

The cranks ,15 give the blades 19 shortv traveling movements around axes substan tially parallel with the stems, repeatedly opening them to admit stems to the various notches as the stems advance and repeatedly closing them on the stems to permit the leafrppirg action to occur. The crankshafts 1i) at the same time move the blades up .and 'zuln or .along the stems, up as they.v are movaway from each other and down -after hey have closed on the stems,l the down'- -crd movement resulting in stripping the.

the stroke of the cranks 11.` As the crossads 13'ascend and descend, the spiral gears ,24 move up and down on the elongated spiral gears 28, the downward movement neutralping, but rotate at double speed machine as a whole. l 4To guidev the crossheads 13 in their recipv 50.

izing the turning effect of the spiral gears- 27, and the upward movement doubling that effect, so that the spiral gears 24 stop rotating on the down stroke, thus leaving the blades in dwell around the stems while stripon the up stroke, causing a rapid opening, advancing, and closin movement of the blades. As designed, t e cycle of strip ing operation is twice as fast as the cycle o operation of the rocating movement, they are rovided with vrollers 33 and 34, the formertting between vthe sides, and thelatter bearing against the faces, of two vertical guide bars 35 attacked to the bearings 7 before referred to.

The crossfeads 13 have the lugs 36 into which are clamped the round ends of the square blade guides 37, the latter resting on the `contact plates 38 attached to the blades, thereby keeping the blades in proper alignment during their horizontal travel.

VTo prevent the advancing stems from he- 1n g rail 39 extending alongthe entire length of the blades is attached by means of cleats 40 to the blade guides 37 of one gears 28 meshing with the stripping members,

caught between the points ofthe blade teeth, a

the'rail 39, is similarly)l fastened to the blade lade. The stems, i.

guides of the other moving forward while the blades are open, are thus held by the brushes '-42 a ainst the rail 39, the latter being'so` ad'uster that the pressure of the brushes will, Orce the stems into the spaces between theblade teeth.

To prevent scraps or waste material from entering the gear-boxes, the crossheads 13 areprovided with vertical guards43 held close to the inner sides of -thebearings 7 by -means of angles 44 attached to their top surfaces, so as to cover up the openings o f the gear downwardly. Likewise, the vertical guard plates 45 extending, in the centre space of the stripper, along the entire length-of the blades, and supported by lthe angles 46 .attached to the journal caps `47 of the 'crossheads 13, keep scrap, etc., from entering the crankcases of the crankshafts 10'. n

The stripped leaf falls upon an endless conveyor belt 48 running from Vthe pulley 49, the shaft 50 ofwhich is supported below the stripping unit on the main frame of the machine, to another pulley suspended on out-- board bearings beyond the end ofthe machine where the vstripped leaves 4are taken olf by the machine operator, not shown but of well known construction and operation.

The shaft 50 is driven bythe@ sprocket 51 which, by means of the chain 52,-1's connected with and driven by countershaft 54 journaled in the mainframe. The countershaft 54 is driven by a spur gear 55 meshinnr with the gear 56 on' the 'shaft 57,

having the wormwheel 58 in mesh with the driving worm 59 on the shaft 6.

In view of the foregoing, a more detailed description of the operation of the mecha.- vnism is deemed unnecesaryto a full understanding of the invention, and it is therefore omitted in theinterest of brevity and clearness. y, Y A

Whatlis claimed is: f 1. The combination with two coacting leafof means whereby a plurality of stems are simultaneously drawn bei tween said members, and means for producing in rapid successionmovements of said housingwalls as the crossheads move the sprocket 53- on the members which are the resultants of traveling movements around axes substantially parallel with the stems 'and'A of reciprocating movementsA along the. stems' to4 cause said members to repeatedly engage each stem and strip a' short section of leaf therefrom.

2. The combination with. two .coacting FLY multi-notched leaf-stripping blades, of means whereby a plurality of stems are simultaneously drawn between said blades,and means.'

traveling movements around axes substantially parallel with the stems and of reciprocating movements along the .stems to cause said blades to repeatedly engage each stem and strip la short section of leaf therefrom. 3. 'lhe combination with two coacting leafstripping members, of means whereby a plm rality of stems are given movements between sald members which are the resultants of .endwise movements and -sidewise movements, and means for producing 1n rapid succession' resultants of traveling movements around -axes substantially parallel with the stems and of reciprocating movements along the stems to cause said members to repeatedly engage each stem and strip a short section of leaf therefrom.

5. The combination with two coacting leafstripping members, of means whereby a plurality of stems are simultaneously drawn between said members, ing in rapid succession movements of said members which are the resultants of horizontal traveling movements around axes substantially parallel with the stems yand of vertical reciprocating movements along the stems to cause said members to repeatedly engage each stem and strip a short section of leaf therefrom.

6. 'ihe combination with two coaeting leafstripping members, of means whereby a plurality of stems are simultaneously drawn between said members, and l'means for producing in rapid succession movements of said members which are the resultante of traveling movements around axes substantially parallel with the stems and movements along the stems to ca use said members to repeatedly engage each stem and strip a short sectionof leaf therefrom, said movement producing means including opera'- tive connections and cranks producing said' traveling movements.

7. The combination with two coacting leafstripping members, of means where y a plurality of stems are simultaneously drawn between said members, and means for produc` ing in rapid succession movements of said members which are the resultante of traveling moveinents around axes substantially parallel with the stems and of reciprocatmg and means for produc-- of reciprocating movements along the stems to cause said members to repeatedly engage cach stem and' strlp a short section of leaf therefrom, said movement producing means including operative connections and cranksinovable about vert-ical axes and producing said traveling movements.

8.. The combination with two coacting leafstripping members,'of means whereby a plurality of stems are simultaneously drawn between saidmembers, and means for producing in rapid succession n'iovements` of said members which are the resultants of traveling movements around axes substantially parallel with the stems and ofreciprocating movements along the stems to cause said members to repeatedly engage and strip a lshort section of leaf therefrom, said movement producing means including operative connections and cranks producing said movements along the stems.

9. The combination with two coacting leafstripping members, of means whereby a plurality of stems are simultaneously drawn between said members, and means for produc` ing in rapid succession movements of said vmemberswhich are the resultants of traveling movements around axes' substantially parallel with the stems and of reciprocating movements along the stems to cause said members to repeatedly engage each stem and strip a short section of leaf therefrom, said movement producing means including operative connections and cranks movable about horizontal axes and producing said move- -ments along the stems.`

10. The combination with i two coacting leaf-stripping members, of means whereby a plurality of stems aresimultaneously drawn between said members, and means for producing in rapid succession movements of said members which are the resultants of traveling` movements around axes substantially parallel with the stems and of reciprocating movements along the stems to cause said members to repeatedly engage each stem and strip a short section of leaf therefrom, said movement producing means including operative connections, cranks producing said trav-y eling movements, cranks producing said movements along the stems,`l and interconnected ge'arinof whereby said cranks are actuated in sync ironism.

11. The combination with two coacting leaf-stripping members, of means whereby a plurality of stems are simultaneously drawn between said members, and means for producing in rapid succession movements of saidl members which are the resultante of ytraveling movements around axes substan- `and strip a short section of leaf therefrom,

said movement 4producing means including atVv .46 slia'ts .having :.elongated spiralo erative'- connections, horizontal' crank-l s afts producing saidA movements along the' stems, vertical transmission shafts geared to said crankshafts, andvertical ,crankshafts geared to said transmission shafts and longitudinally reci rocated by said-horizontal crankshafts an producing said traveling movements. 12. IThe combinati leaf-stripping members, a plurality of stems 'a're simultaneously @drawnbetween said members, and -means for producin `in rapid s1ccessionmove ments .of sai memberswhieharethe ite- .sultantsof traveling movements around axes substantially parallel with the' l and of reciprocating movements Valougfthe stems to .cause said members toffrepeatedly engage each stemsnd. strip slioltgseotiom of leaf therefrom-,isaid mgvementf producing means including operativ nnectiins,a means for. interrupting'saidftraveling moyef ments during a partv movements.

1-3; The combination with ltwo coasting' .leaf-stripping members,- ofmeans whereby -a plurality of stems-- drawn between `said members, and means for producino' in lrapid succession movements of said members which are the resultants of traveling movements around'a'xes substantially parall'l witlithestemsandof 'reciprocating movements along the stems to` .cause said members to repeatedly engage each stem and strip a short section of leaf. therefrom, said movement producing"means` including. operative, connections, horizontal 'cankshafts producing said movements along e. stems, vertical transmission shafts so -geared to said. crankshafts, and vertical crankshats gearedv to said transmission shafts and longitudinall f reci'rocated by said horizontal cranlha an producing said traveling... movements, said transmission gears driving .short spiral gears on said'verticalffcrankshatsatdouble.l speed duringfnpwardrjre- -@predationanasboppnsthem armado-W11- wardreoiprocatiionzf f on `.with 1 two coacting 10A ofv means whereby si'thfitw leaf-stripping'v 'members,`of means'` lurality Voffstelns are sm etween saidv niembers'and means for pro- `ducing `in `'rapid v'suemissionf movements v"of 'the resultante f @f travelingmovements .$011.11 faxes.; substantially parallelwith't and-iofrecip` .rocating' movementaaloiigtli saidmembers vto Ieachvigea* eres.

. v n, meneame- `from, saidfmovementgp'rod -cluding l operative f connectio'ns, j croeeheads Supporting' Said membremenSx-fo recirv rocatingsaid crsshd'ft and vertical'crsnkshaits 'ournaledl in said.

vducing said trave offsaid'i' reciprbeati-ngal plur l `drawn `between said members, means for are' simultaneously leaf 'of 'lurality of stems are simultaneously drawn.

ltaneous'ly drawn :f j'in rapid succ flel 'with the stems and Yof reciprocatin' toipause strip a 1 short 'section oflea crossheads and producing said traveling movements.

'15, The combination withv two coacting leaf-stri ping members, of means whereby a plurality of-4 stems are simultaneously drawn lbetween said members, and means for producing in rapid succession movements oflsaid .members which are the resultants of Vtraveling movements around axes substan- .rtially' parallel with the stems and lof recip- 7 5 rocatin'g movements alon the stems to. cause said members to repeated y enga e each stem and strip a short section of lea therefrom, said. movement producing means including Voperative connections, crossheads supportin said members,means for reciprocating said crosshe'ads alon let? `the stems, vertical'cranki shafts journa in said crossheads'and pro- I 1in movements, and guard plates carried by said cro'sshead.

A@16. The combinationfwith twol coacting leafstripping members, fof means whereby ity of stt-:arriesL--areV simultaneously producing in rapidrsuccession movements of said, members which are :thejresultantsl of traveling movements around axes substantially parallel with 'the stems and of reciprocatlng movements along the stems to cause said i members to repeatedly engage each stem and strip a short section of eaf therefrom, and stem-clearing means engaging 4the stems adjacent said members.

17. The combination with two coacting -stripping smembers, of means whereby a plurality of stems are y simultaneously .drawn between said members, means for producing in rapid succession movements of said 'members which are the resultants of traveling movements around-axes substam tially parallelwith' thestems and of `reciprotating movements along the stems tov cause said members to repeatedly en age each stem andfstrip .a short section of leaf therefrom, andf-stem-clearing meansv including a .rail and a coacting brush engaging the stems 'adjacent s aid members; Y r ,18. The combination |withftwo coacting leaf-stripping members, of means. whereby a tween said members, means for-producing essionmovements of said mem,- *b ers' which' are the resultan-ts of traveljin movements around ,axes substantially para vmovements alongthe' -stems 'to cause sai e ea'clistem and therefrom-,and f istemlearing means moving with said members and enga-'ging members;` Y. In testi'nony whereof, I Ahave signed my `nameto this specification;

"members torepeatedly lenga i `q WILHELM n BRoNAinnRz-"f the, stems ad"aoent said 

